Strap buckle

ABSTRACT

Strap buckle comprising a frame ( 4 ) with a reverse side and an upper side, which frame has an anchorage end (at  2 ) and a free end ( 7 ) and an opening ( 6 ) between those two ends, the side edges of which are designed as guides ( 10, 11 ) and the edge of which that lies adjacent to the free end forms a counter edge ( 8 ), as well as a locking means ( 5 ) arranged in the opening to be displaceable on the guides. The locking means ( 5 ) is provided on the guides ( 10, 11 ) with a clearance ( 16 ) so that it is slanted in relation to the guides when a pulling force is exerted on the strap ( 18 ) laid around the locking means. The locking means ( 5 ) is on its side lying at the reverse side of the frame designed with a lip ( 17 ) protruding towards the free end of the frame in order to, in cooperation with said counter edge ( 8 ), exert line pressure against the strap when the strap is loaded.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a strap buckle especially for a belt carrier for children.

BACKGROUND

A belt buckle is previously known, comprising a frame with a reverse side and an upper side, which frame has one end fixedly attached to e.g. a belt carrier, and a free end, and between said ends having a substantially rectangular opening with side edges designed in the form of guides, and the edge lying adjacent the free end being a counter edge, as well as a locking means arranged on the guides to be displaceable in the opening, wherein, in use, a strap is inserted from the reverse side of the strap buckle between the locking means and the edge lying opposite the counter edge in the opening in the frame, above the locking means, and from the upper side down between the locking means and the counter edge, and wherein a pulling force on the strap pulls the locking means against the counter edge and thereby exerting a clamping force preventing the strap from being drawn out from the strap buckle.

When the free end of the frame is lifted the clamping force of the locking means against the counter edge is suspended and the strap can be loosened or tightened.

The clamping force results in that the strap because of the friction is locked by the strap buckle. For example, in belt carriers straps made of fabric with a filling is used in order to make them comfortable to use. Belt buckles according to the prior art function to a large extent without problems during normal use when the straps are new. Despite that there is a need for further improving the safety of the strap buckle, such that also with worn straps, thin straps as well as straps of a material with a low friction coefficient, a safe locking of the strap and therewith also e.g. for a belt carrier is obtained, also at an extreme load on the strap. This might occur for example when a child tries to get out of a belt carrier when it is worn, or if the belt carrier should get caught in something such as a door handle or similar objects.

THE INVENTION

The invention solves this problem with the features defined in the characterizing part of claim 1. Developments of the invention are defined in the sub claims.

Through this design a clamping force as well as a pinch effect on the strap caused by the locking lip is achieved, which amplifies the locking effect which is accomplished when the locking element clamps the strap between itself and the counter edge in the opening of the frame because the locking means thanks to the clearance between the locking means and the guides tilts inwardly towards the opening when the strap is pulled and locks the strap in the opening through line pressure. At the same time the locking lip can be released from the strap without difficulties when the free end is manually lifted and the strap can be loosened in the normal way. The strap is also tightened in the usual way by exercising a pulling force on the free end of the strap, possible at the same time as the frame is slanted in relation to the strap by lifting its free end.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages, objects and features of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which as examples illustrates embodiments of the invention, and in which

FIG. 1 shows a view from above of the strap buckle according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a frontal view of the locking means according to one embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 3 shows a reverse view of the locking means according to the invention,

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view through the strap buckle according to the invention, taken along the line A-A in FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged sectional view of the locking means for illustrating the function of the strap buckle according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention thus relates to a strap buckle, which is generally designated with the reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1. The strap buckle 1 can be sewn to e.g. a belt carrier for babies, which is not illustrated in the drawing, using a strap, which is not illustrated in the drawing either, which strap has been laid as a loop through a fastening opening 2. This is outlined with a dashed line in FIG. 4.

The strap buckle 1 consists of a frame 4 and a locking means 5. The frame 4 has an inlet opening 6 for a strap not shown in detail in FIG. 1. The frame 4 has a free end 7, which might be used for slanting of the frame in relation to a strap. The inlet opening 6 is defined by a counter edge 8 adjacent to the free end of the frame, and an edge 9 running in parallel therewith. The side edges 10, 11 of the opening are designed as guides for the locking means.

In FIG. 2 a frontal view of the locking means 5 is shown with the guides 10, 11 shown as cross sections. The locking means 5 has an elongated body 12 and a guide opening 13 and 14, respectively, at each end. A slot 15 is extended between the respective guide openings 13, 14. The object of the slot is to allow the mounting of the guide means on the frame of the strap buckle. As is shown in FIG. 2 the guide openings 13, 14 are arranged with a clearance 16 on the guides 10, 11 of the frame 4 in order to allow for a slanting of the locking means 5 in relation to the frame 4.

In FIG. 3 the locking means 15 is shown from underneath, showing that the locking means on its side lying substantially at the same level as the reverse side of the frame has a protruding lip 17.

In FIG. 4 is shown a cross section through the strap buckle taken along the line A-A in FIG. 1. The locking means 5 is arranged to be displaceable in the opening 6, as is shown with the two-way arrow in the figure, and being in a position wherein it does not lock the strap. The strap is shown with a dashed line 18 and is laid from the reverse side of the strap buckle up around the locking means 5 and down through the opening 6 between the locking means 5 and the counter edge 8.

In FIG. 5 is shown a partial cross section of the strap buckle in an enlarged scale, wherein the locking means 5 is displaced in the direction towards the counter edge 8 and wherein the lip 17, when a pulling force is exerted on the strap 18, is pressed against the counter edge 8, and thereby fastens the strap 18 against the counter edge. Thanks to the clearance 16 which exists between the guide openings 13, 14 and the guides 10 and 11, respectively, the locking means 5 tilts, as is illustrated with the curved two-way arrows in the figure, when a pulling force is exerted on the strap 18. This results in that the locking means 5 is slanted so that the lip with its limiting edge is pressed against the strap and thereby exerts what could be denoted as a line pressure against the strap. This gives rise to a very secure locking of the strap in the strap buckle.

Simultaneously with the attainment of a very secure locking of the strap, the strap buckle is still very easy to loosen by lifting up of the free end of the frame with one hand.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment of the invention described in detail above. Accordingly the protruding lip on the locking means can be designed with tooth like protrusions in order to further enhance the locking effect on a strap. Further it is conceivable to design the protruding lip in a V-form or with any other form which in cooperation with the counter edge having a complementary form gives a secure locking of the strap that is used. 

1. Strap buckle, comprising a frame (4) with a reverse side and an upper side, which frame has an anchorage end (at 2) and a free end (7) and, between the two ends, an opening (6) having side edges designed as guides (10, 11) and the edge of which lying adjacent to the free end being a counter edge (8), as well as a locking means (5) arranged to be displaceable on the guides, whereby, in use, a strap (18) is inserted from the reverse side of the strap buckle between the locking means and the edge of the opening in the frame lying opposite to the counter edge, over the locking means and from the upper side down between the locking means and the counter edge, and wherein by a pulling force on the strap this will pull the locking means against the counter edge and thereby through clamp force prevent the strap from being drawn out from the strap buckle, characterized in that the locking means (5) is arranged on the guides (10, 11) with a clearance (16) so that it is slanted in relation to the guides when a pulling force is exerted on the strap (18) laid around the locking means, and in that the locking means (5) on its side lying at the reverse side of the frame is designed with a lip (17) protruding towards the free end of the frame in order to, in corporation with said counter edge (8), exert line pressure against the strap when the strap is loaded.
 2. Strap buckle according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking means (5) has an elongated body (12), a guide opening (13, 14) at each end of the elongated body and a slot (15) connecting the guide openings in the elongated body, wherein the walls forming the guide openings are flexible so that the slot can be enlarged for the mounting of the locking means on the frame. 